Game structure with individually rotatable blocks



April 13, 1965 v. w. ARDIS 7 GAME STRUCTURE WITH INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE BLOCKS Filed July 19, 1962 Fig./ /0 2 22 3 g I: v 4 9 In- F) l m i I: 46 "I 4 a u I M -fl m 9 8 E I TI 9 I a IO li g 40 9 4 m 2 E 9 J I J u m 9 r m a Q 32 u 3a /2 j 36 34 Fig. 3

6 WWW 2 as 'IIIIA w 22 a /6 VII/4 Vernon W- Ardis INVENTOR.

A BY United States Patent Oiiiee.

3,17 8,185 GAP/E STRUCTURE WITH INDIVlDUALLY RGTATABLE BLOCKS Vernon W. Ardis, Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor of fifty percent to Harry Berke, Chattanooga, Tenn. Filed July 19, 1962, Ser. No. 211,016 2 Claims. (Cl; 273-136) The present invention generally relates to game devices, and more particularly to a game wherein a plurality of rotatably mounted blocks are provided with the blocks each having one normally hidden face which is to contain a picture thereon with the pictures being in pairs, the object of the game being to match the pairs by a selective rotation of two of the blocks.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a game which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a game wherein a certain amount of concentration is required thereby tending to train as well as challenge the players of the game.

Likewise, an object of the present invention is to provide a game having a plurality of interchangeable parts so as to avoid any set solution.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a game device which is simple in structure and inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the game device comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 22 in FIGURE 1; 7

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FZGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the cards used in the playing of the game; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the blocks illustrating the card receiving grooved face thereon.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 1% generally designates the frame of the present invention. This frame consists of two vertical end members 12 and 14, three intermediate vertical members 16, 1S and 20, an upper horizontal member 22, and a lower horizontal member 24. These members are to be secured in any conventional manner such as by gluing or nailing so as to form a rectangular frame it) provided with four parallel vertically extending spaces 26,28, 36 and 32, the frame being supported in an upright position by two compound legs 34 and 36.

Vertically spaced within each elongated space 26, 28, 3t? and 32 is a plurality of blocks .38. The blocks 38 in the end spaces 26 and 32 are horizontally aligned, with the blocks 38 in the two central spaces 28 and 39 also being horizontally aligned but offset from the blocks 38 in the first mentioned spaces 26 and 32.

Each of these blocks 38 is provided on one face thereof with a different numeral and on the opposite face thereof with a vertically extending groove 40 having undercut edges 42 on each side thereof for the frictional reception therein of the complementarily formed edges 44 of each of the cards as which in turn are provided with various pictorial representations on the outer face thereof, these cards 36 being provided in pairs, that is, two cards having the same pictorial representation thereon. It will be appreciated that the frictional engagement of the cards 46 within the grooves 40 is to be sufiicient to maintain the card 45 in position while at the same time allowing them to be readily removed upon the exertion of a slight pressure.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, each of the blocks 38 is individually fixedly mounted on horizontally extending shafts 48 rotatably journaled through the vertically extending members 12, 16, 13, 20 and 14 with the ends of the shafts 48 extending horizontally beyond the end members 12 and 14 so as to form handles for the manipulation of the individual blocks 38. It will be noted that the shafts .8 controlling the two end rows of blocks are journaled in two of the vertical members and extend outwardly slightly beyond the shafts 48 which journal the central rows of blocks and are journaled within three of the vertical members.

The game of the present invention is to be played by positioning the blocks so as to conceal'the cards which have been randomly positioned within the grooves 40 of the various blocks 38. Next, the first player is to select two blocks, the numbers on the face thereof being provided for purposes of identification, and rotate the blocks so as to expose the cards46. If the cards exposed comprise a pair, that is, have the same pictorial representation thereon, the player scores a point, however, if the two cards do not match, the blocks are returned to their first position and the next player-proceeds to take his turn. It will be appreciated that as the game progresses the various players will become increasingly aware of the location of the various cards so as to facilitate the matching thereof. After the game has been completed, the cards 46 are removed from the grooves 40 and mixed for subsequent insertion into different blocks thereby presenting a completely different arrangement for another playing of the game. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement enables the provision of a constant challenge to the players and thus maintains their interest over extended periods of time.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game device including a frame, said frame including two vertical end members and three intermediate vertical members, said members being in spaced parallel relationship to each other forming four vertically extending spaces, two end spaces and two intermediate spaces, a'

vertical row of spaced blocks in each end space, the blocks in these two end spaces being horizontally aligned, an elongated shaft extending through each block, through and beyond the adjacent end member, and into the adjacent Patented Apr. 13, 1965 blocks in the two intermediate spaces being vertically 5 offset from the blocks in the end spaces, an elongated shaft extending through and being fixed to each block in the intermediate spaces, said last mentioned shaft projecting through the adjoining end space between a pair of blocks in said end space and being rotatably supported in the end member and intermediate member defining said last mentioned end space, each of the shafts secured to the intermediate space blocks projecting beyond the corresponding end member parallel to but for a different distance than the shafts fixed to the end space blocks.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each block includes generally planar front and rear faces, said rear face including means for releasably retaining a card thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,204 8/91 Klanser 4068 10 1,041,178 10/12 Schumacher 4068 2,409,493 10/46 Jones 273l35 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.- 

1. A GAME DEVICE INCLUDING A FRAME, SAID FRAME INCLUDING TWO VERTICAL END MEMBERS AND THREE INTERMEDIATE VERTICAL MEMBERS, SAID MEMBERS BEING IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER FORMING FOUR VERTICALLY EXTENDING SPACES, TWO END SPACES AND TWO INTERMEDIATE SPACES, A VERTICAL ROW OF SPACED BLOCKS IN EACH END SPACE, THE BLOCKS IN THESE TWO END SPACES BEING HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED, AN ELONGATED SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH EACH BLOCK, THROUGH AND BEYOND THE ADJACENT END MEMBER, AND INTO THE ADJACENT INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, SAID SHAFT BEING ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY THE END AND INTERMEDIATE MEMBERS, SAID BLOCK BEING FIXED TO THE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A VERTICAL ROW OF SPACED BLOCKS IN EACH INTERMEDIATE SPACE, THE BLOCKS IN THE TWO INTERMEDIATE SPACES BEING VERTICALLY OFFSET FROM THE BLOCKS IN THE END SPACES, AN ELONGATED 